Fusee



June 14, 1938. L. A. SHERMAN FUSEE Filed July 15, 1937 2 sheets sheet 1' INVENTOR. LOUM Afifiemz'an 1 BY ATTO NEY.

June 14, 1938. A. SHERMAN FUSEE Filed July 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Lou/,6 A j/w/mm ATTORNEY.

Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FUSEE Louie A. Sherman, Florissant, Mo., assignor to Safetee Torpedo Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application July 15, 1937, Serial No. 153,742

15 Claims. (Cl. 102-24) This invention'relates generally to visual sigthe shell may be longitudinally extended, as at nals and, more particularly, to a certain new A, to provide an end-chamber a outwardly of and useful improvement in visual signals of the a fixed end-closure B for housing, as during type commonly known as fusees. shipment or handling, a ground-engaging mem- My invention has for its; primary object the her C, which latter is fixed at an end to a sec- 5 provision of a fusee which is'fsimple in form and 0nd plug or closure B" reversably engageable structure, which may be readily and economically with the shell-end A for disposing the member manufactured, which is substantially waterproof C either outwardly of the shell for ground enand unafiected by atmospheric conditions, which gagement or inwardly of the shell for transporis uniquely constructed for signally burning over tation convenience. 10

.a selected definite period of time, and which is Diametrically sized for snugly fitting, and disexceedingly satisfactory and efiicient in the 'perposed in endwise contiguous or abutting relaformance of its intended functions. tionship, within the casing or shell A, is a se- And with the above and other objects in view, lected plurality of preformed preferably cylinl5 my invention resides in the novel features of drical combustible units D each embodying in form, construction, arrangement, and combinaits structure suitable fire or flame-producing intion of parts presently described and pointed out. gr d Su for instance, as potassium p in the claims. chlorate, a suitable fuel-forming binder, and a In the accompanying drawings (2 sheets) suitable color-imparting agent. Such latter agent Figure 1 is an elevational view of a fusee conmay be the same in all the units D of a particu- 20 structed in accordance with and embodying my lar fusee, or if desired, and as indicated in Figinvention; ure 7, the color-agents of the several units D of Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the a fusee may'va y, S at the fusee Will ve fusee, taken approximately along the line 2-2, forth, in use, a signal of successively different or Figure 1; varying colored flame. I 25 Figure 3 is 'a transverse sectional view of the In the construction of the units D, the several fusee, taken approximately along the line 33, ingredients are suitably moistened, then uni- Figllle formly intermixed by kneading into a plastic ,Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the mass, the mass then divided into substantially combustible units of the fusee; equal portions, and the several portions or divi- 30 Figures 5 and 6 are detail fragmental secsions then uniformly compressed and molded in vtional views of a slightly modified fusee embodya suitable machine or otherwise preformed into ing my invention; compact individual substantially identical com- Figure 7 is a broken elevational view of another bustible units; The individual units D are then modified fusee embodying my invention; and dried and exteriorly coated with a combustible 35 Figure 8 is a perspective view of slightly modiwaterproofing film, such, for instance, as paraffied combustible units of the fusee. fine, each unit D being carefully compounded to Referring now in more detail and by reference comprise a predetermined quantity of combuscharacters to the drawings, which illustrate tible elements, so that its burning period will be practical embodiments of the present invention, accurately and precisely timed. Thus, for in- 40 the fusee comprises an outer open-ended tubular stance, in the preferred embodiment of the or cylindrical casing or shell -A constructed of fusee here shown, the units D may be formed any suitable material, such as heavy paper, cardto each burn for precisely two minute periods, board, or the like. so that collectively the five units D will burn Adhesively or otherwise fixed t0, and partially for precisely ten minutes. 45 fitting within, the shell A at its lower extremity, Also disposed within' the tube or casing A at in the preferred form of the fusee, as best seen the upper extremity thereof, is a striker-unit E, in Figure 2, is a closure preferably in the form which is substantially of disk-shape and integralof a peripherally shouldered wooden plug B, and ly includes a dome-like or matc portion e suitably engaged at an end with the plug B, is of suitable chemical composition for friction ig- 50 a centrally disposed axially outwardly presented nition and an underlying portion e composed nail-like spike C adapted for ground engageof highly ignitable materials for ready combusment or the like for operatively supporting the tion for communicating the fiame to the immefusee in upright signalling or burning position. diately adjacent or contiguous combustible unit D.

If desired, and as best seen in Figures fi and '7, When the tube A has been suitably filled or units D and the superimposed striker-unit E, the tube A at its upper margin is crimped downwardly and inwardly, as at a, in firm retentive engagement with the marginal portion of the upper face of the striker-unit E, as best seen in Fi u e 2.

In use, the fusee is grasped firmly and the outwardly presented arcuate face of the strikerportion e of the unit E drawn vigorously acrossis immediately communicated to the second, unit D, and then subsequently to the third, fourth, and fifth units D, each unit D burning, in turn, for its definite and selected period of time, thus producing a visual signal of precise duration and of a definite color. And, further, if desired, the several units of a fusee, as units D', Figure 8, may be constructed for interengagement for increasing or facilitating the flame-communication the one to the other, as, for instance, by a tongue and groove joint F, F, as shown.

Thus, by my present invention, I provide a visual signal or fusee which may be readily and accurately standardized for burning over a precise and predetermined period of time, in which the chemical ingredients are uniformly and homogeneously'compounded in such manner that they will burn with a uniform, constant, and steady flame and will not become stratified or dissociated through handling, and which are arranged in a waterproof manner so as to be substantially impervious against atmospheric changes and conditions. It will be evident also that, in accordance with my invention, fusees' of varying duration and interval may be readily and conveniently manufactured by utilizing longer or shorter tubes A, which, in turn, may be charged or loaded with any desired number of similar units D, as the case may be.

It should be understood that changesand modiflcations in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the fusee may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

-1. A fusee comprising a shell, and a plurality of preformed combustible units in superposed relation within the shell, each unit being .con-

structed to burn approximately throughout a predetermined period of time.

2. A fusee comprising a shell, and a plurality of substantially similar preformed combustible units in snug superposed relation within the shell, each unit being constructed to burn approximately -throughout a predetermined period of time.

3. A fusee comprising a shell, and a plurality of substantially similar preformed cylindrical combustible units disposed snugly within the shell in endwise contiguous relationship, each unit being constructed to burn approximately throughout a predetermined period of time.

4.'A fusee comprising a shell, and a plurality loaded with the desired-number of combustible of substantially ,similar preformed cylindrical combustible units disposed snugly within the shell in endwise contiguous relationship, each unit being coated with a waterproof film having the characteristic, when exposed to heat, of generating a readily ignitable fluid.

5. A fusee comprising a tubular shell, a plu-' rallty of flame-producing preformed combustible units housed incontiguous relation within the shell, and a combined striker-and-combustible member disposed in and partially projecting outwardly from an end of the shell for ignition of the adjacent housed unit.

6. A fusee comprising a shell, and a plurality of preformed cylindrical combustible units disposed snugly within the shell in endwise contiguous relationship, each of the units being of substantially the same size, shape, and weight and adapted for flame-producing combustion approximately over a precise and definite period of time.

7. A fusee comprising a shell, a plurality or] preformed cylindrical combustible units disposed snugly within the shell in endwise contiguous relationship, each of the units being of substantially the same size, shape, and weight and adapted for flame-producing combustion approximately over a precise and definite period of time, and a combined striker-and-combustible member diseposed in and partially projecting outwardly froman end of the shell for ignition of the adjacent unit.

8. A fusee comprising.a shell, a plurality of flame-producing preformed combustible units dis-.

posed in superposed relation within the shell, and a combined striker-and-combustible member disposed in and partially projecting outwardly from an end of the shell for ignition of the adjacent unit, the shell being crimped in marginal securing engagement with said member.

9. A fusee comprising a shell, and a plurality of preformed combustible units snugly housed in superposed endwise relation within the shell and constructed for producing a flame-signal of successively different colors.

10. 'A fusee comprising a shell, and a plurality of flame-producing preformed combustible units housed within the shell in endwise interengaging relation.

11. A fusee comprising a shell, and a plurality of preformed combustible units each having an.

inflammable covering disposed within the shell in contiguous relationship.

12. A fusee comprising a shell, and a plurality 'of substantially similar preformed combustible units each coated with 'a readily ignitable waterproof film disposed within the shell in contiguous relationship.

13. A fusee comprising. a shell and .1. plurality LOUIEA. 

